Some (lucky) people discover their calling in life at a very young age but many others aren’t on that same boat. Picking a major in college is challenging and can cause Undeclared students to feel as if they are falling behind. However, while there are deadlines they should be aware of, there are also many reasons why Undecided students should not feel so pressured about declaring a major.
What’s your major? Shouldn’t you declare soon? What do you want to do after college?
Questions like these can cause you, as an Undecided student, to feel overwhelmed and anxious as you try to narrow down your academic interests. While it may seem that everyone is on-track to complete their major, being undecided and switching majors is actually very common, so don’t be discouraged. Nonetheless, even as you explore different areas of study, there are some deadlines and requirements you should keep in mind.
All majors have a set of prerequisite classes you need to complete before applying for admission to the major. These “prereqs” range from as few as two classes to more than 17 classes. Additionally, some majors also have restrictions on the number of units you must have before you can apply to enter the major while certain departments only admit students with certain class standing. Below are two popular majors and a summary of their requirements.
Psychology
7 Pre requisites
Overall GPA of 2.5 or better a C or better is required in Psychology 10, Psychology 100A and Psychology 100B
A C- or better is required in the other preparation courses
10 Upper Division Requirements.
* recommended ** must be declared pre-psychology to enroll
Political Science
5 Pre requisites
Overall GPA of 2.0 or better
Deadline to complete lower divs is 135 units plus AP units
10 Upper Division Requirements
As you see, some majors may take longer to complete and others have a unit cap for admission. Luckily, the General Education requirements are very helpful in figuring out where your interests lie. These GEs not only fulfill graduation requirements but also expose you to a wide range of fields of study. If you forget which GE category you have satisfied and which ones you didn’t, MyUCLA has a feature called DARS report under Academics that enables you to keep track of your requirements.
Why GEs are helpful:
-GEs reveal to students the ways that research scholars in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences create and evaluate new knowledge.
-They introduce students to the important ideas and themes of human cultures.
-They foster appreciation for the many perspectives and the diverse voices.
-They develop the intellectual skills that students need to function in a rapidly changing world.
Don’t freak out about how much money “x” major will make or what others will think of you if you choose “y” major. Instead think about what really intrigues you and what you genuinely enjoy learning about. GEs can be a good way to explore these interests so although it may be convenient to pick the “GPA boosters,” what would be more efficient is to take something that sounds interesting because that seemingly random class may lead you to your academic path!
Speaking to your academic counselor will also help you through your decision process. FYE recently spoke with academic counselor Cathy Behrens about some of the advice she gives to students struggling to declare a major. She said that it’s never too late to declare a major since there isn’t a specific year you must put it on paper, unless the major you want has a certain deadline. According to Ms. Behrens, students should also not be discouraged if they are not accepted into a major they wanted because they can apply over and over again. If they strategize with their counselors and visit academic departments, students can improve their resume to apply again, while simultaneously working on a back up major. So definitely make an appointment with your academic counselor to start a plan!
Finally, I’ll leave you with a wonderful piece of advice Ms. Behrens gives to all students: it’s not about picking the *~perfect~* major, but rather creating the best college experience you can have! At the end of the day, your overall involvement throughout your academic career is what will make you a more well-rounded and prepared individual in the ‘real world.’ So take advantage of the hundreds of opportunities available on campus! And just remember, what you study in your undergraduate years will not dictate what you will do for the rest of your life. What’s important is to take the values and skills you acquire in school and keep them with you for the rest of your life. So go out there and enjoy your college years!
Written by Student Editors Karina Martinez and Kayzoo Yang
Special thanks to College Academic Counselor Cathy Behrens for her contributions to this article.
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